By SHANNON WELLS and SUSAN JONES

Most NFL Draft-related events will take place at Point State Park and on Pittsburgh’s North Shore around Acrisure Stadium next week, but the influx of visitors could have an impact on the Oakland area,

Ted Fritz, Pitt’s vice chancellor for public safety and emergency management, addressed potential impacts to Oakland and the Pitt campus during his April 7 update to the Campus Utilization, Planning and Safety (CUPS) committee.

Organizers have said that the April 23 to 25 event could attract 500,000 people to the city. A check of hotels in the Oakland area shows most are almost or completely sold out.

Fritz said that Pitt Police have been involved in various exercises downtown, and “although we’re not going to be participating too much down there, we anticipate that there could be some extra traffic in our own area, both visitors and vehicle-wise.”

Information about road closures, traffic alerts and other related concerns regarding Oakland will be posted on the Public Safety and Emergency Management social media pages.

A Pitt spokesman said, “The University is asking supervisors at our Pittsburgh campus to encourage flexibility, including remote work when possible, in an effort to ease traffic congestion during the upcoming NFL Draft.”

Fritz also emphasized the importance of the If You See Something, Say Something campaign.

“We think we’re going to be needed in Oakland, so largely our police will be sticking tight to the Oakland area and just trying to find out information as best we can and plan accordingly. It’s a great three days to be flexible,” he said, noting that it’s a “great time, if you can, to use the PRT. That would be helpful to easing congestion throughout the city.”

Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) also is changing some of its bus schedules to accommodate four “Football Flyer” routes, including one starting at Monroeville Mall and serving every station along the East Busway. The Football Flyer buses will run from 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. April 23 to 25.

All other buses that come through Oakland will be operating on a Saturday schedule all three days, expect the 65 and P3, which will not be running at all. Go to PRT’s NFL Draft website for complete details.

“If you’re … thinking about going to the draft (events), you want to download the NFL OnePass app. That’s going to be a source of information for you for evolving things, as well as just how the setup is going to be down there,” Fritz said.

And don’t forget Pitt Athletics, in partnership with the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, will host a three-day celebration at downtown’s new Arts Landing to coincide with the NFL Draft.

The Pitt Block Party, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. April 23 to 25, will be the first major event at Arts Landing — the four-acre performance and civic space along 8th Street between Penn Avenue and Fort Duquesne Boulevard.

The free Pitt Athletics event will include: Pitt Football Legacy Hall, local food trucks, autograph signings, DJs and live music, Panthers Team Store, Kids Zone and College Football 26 Gaming Area.

Bike the Draft

Bike Pittsburgh (BikePGH) is encouraging residents and visitors to consider biking, walking and using public transit to get around the city during the event. 

With the support of VisitPITTSBURGH, BikePGH has created the Bike the Draft Resource Guide, which shows how choosing a bike is the easiest and most convenient way to beat traffic and get around town, whether you are heading to this major event or just trying to make it to work on time. It includes information on:

Route recommendations and detours: Guidance on how to bike to and around the North Shore, including tips for navigating trail and road closures.

Bike parking map: A curated map of secure, convenient places to lock up within walking distance of the action, featuring high-capacity racks and some lesser-known but reliable spots.

Safety and prep tips: A refresher on biking basics, from doing a safety check before rolling out to riding predictably and yielding to pedestrians.

Locking your bike: Recommendations for how and where to lock your bike properly.

Multimodal trips: Guidance on using the Pittsburgh Bike Map, where to park your car near convenient bike routes, getting your bike on a bus rack, and how to rent a POGOH bike share. 

Shannon O. Wells is a writer for the University Times. Reach him at shannonw@pitt.edu. Susan Jones is editor of the University Times. Reach her at suejones@pitt.edu or 724-244-4042.

 

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